Surveillance of tomato potato psyllid in the Eastern States and South Australia (MT16016)

What was it all about?

This project ran from mid-2017 into 2018, with levy investment from the potato and vegetable industries. Its surveillance activities were designed to bolster psyllid surveillance for the early detection of tomato potato psyllid (TPP) should it cross from Western Australia into South Australia and the eastern states, including Tasmania.

Surveillance involved potato crops as well as other solonaceous vegetables (including capsicum, eggplant and chilli), especially those grown in greenhouses.

During its course, the project offered growers access to sticky traps for TPP surveillance – with more than 3000 traps distributed across Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, along with trapping protocols and other key information.

From analysis of returned traps, some 6400 native psyllids were detected, but none were known to feed on crop plants.

The project also facilitated a host of training workshops on TPP for industry, while also liaising with the various state agencies involved in TPP efforts, the national TPP coordinator, and with other relevant projects, with the goal of developing a strong legacy for ongoing surveillance to help safeguard the industry.

TPP surveillance continues through a national program funded from multiple industry levies.